Tributes have been paid to a "super energetic" and "funny" Dublin supermarket manager who tragically died fighting for his country and family in Ukraine.
Oleksandr Zavhorodniy had been living in Ireland for 20 years and was a manager of an Aldi in Sandyford before leaving to fight in the war.
The separated father-of-two is believed to have been killed on March 30 in heavy fighting in Popasna, which is near Luhansk.
Read more: Dublin shop manager killed after returning home to fight for Ukraine
And speaking on Morning Ireland on RTE Radio 1, Alex Cucuet - a close friend of Oleksandr - gave a touching tribute to the man that was always first "in front of everything that needs to be organised".
He said: "First of all was a super energetic, funny person.
"He was always the first person in front of everything that needs to be organised.
"I met him eight years ago through a very good friend of mine. We met at a barbeque and ever since then we've been friends."
Alex, who is a Dublin Bus driver, didn't go into the details of the Ukrainian man's death, but he explained how he found out about it.
He said: "I would not like to go through details but what I know is he was involved in heavy, heavy shooting. It is what it is.
"A very good friend of mine, he is actually his best friend. He's been contacted by his grandmother, so his grandmother and his sister apparently survived.
"They've been keeping in touch with us with info and stuff like that happened to him."
Oleksandr was buried yesterday in a place known locally as the 'Alley of Heroes', according to Alex.
He said: "Yesterday was his burial actually.
"We managed to sort it out and make it happen somehow even though the place is not liveable.
"The place doesn't look nice at all. We still managed to bury him in a place called the Alley of Heroes."
Alex was keeping in touch with Oleksandr through social media, and he would regularly try to lighten the mood with funny messages and pictures.
He said: "I was keeping in touch with him on WhatsApp.
"He was texting me and he was sending me pictures, funny pictures, trying to keep everybody laughing even though we were worrying.
"He was sending us pictures with with him and the weapons and the food he was eating and the place he was and stuff like that.
"The last time I managed to talk to him and he actually answered to a text of mine was on March 22.
Alex said that all of his friends were worried for Oleksandr, but added that he would have made the same decision to go back and fight if it was him.
He said: "I was worried. We were all worried.
"But in the same time after everything that happened, we kind of understand what was in his heart.
"And I think every person in his position, more or less would would act the same. I would act the same honestly."
Oleksandr's friend of 14 years, Anya Neilande, setup a GoFundMe page to raise money for his grieving family and, so far, more than €15,000 has been raised.
She wrote: "Our dear friend Alex passed away on the 30th of March. As you know, he spent over 20 years in Ireland, where he found his second home. His heart, however, remained in Ukraine, and that’s why he chose to go back…
"This fundraiser aims to try and help his family, who are now away from home, mostly displaced, and devastated. They will not be able to attend his funeral in his hometown.
Donations can be made here.
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